Inequity Continues in ECS funding

This state legislature had preserved much of the largest single source of state support to municipalities, education cost-sharing grants, in its bipartisan budget it negotiated and passed in October. There are, however, some devilish details that should be noted.

First, because of cuts and authorized holdbacks since then, all but the 30 Alliance school districts begin 2018 with 12.95 percent less than in 2017 [courant.com, Nov. 28, "School Officials Reeling After Governor Withholds $91 Million In Municipal Aid"].

Second, the ECS formula has been reworked so that the grants, which have rarely been fully funded in the past 27 years, have been substantially decreased.

Third, the unfair proportional distribution of ECS dollars continues. Ninety-seven towns will get less than their due, and 77 will get more than 100 percent, according to my calculations of data provided to me by the Office of Fiscal Analysis on Oct. 25. Some will get double to six times their fair share.

The legislature has suggested a 10-year incremental phase-in whereby every town will ultimately attain 100 percent of its formulaic full funding. But why should 97 towns, such as New Britain and West Hartford, wait so long for their fair share?

For the near future, Rocky Hill, Cromwell and even Hartford citizens' state taxes will be spent subsidizing other towns' budgets while their local tax rates will be elevated to make up for ECS dollars they should be getting.

Maybe the courts will find the legislature's plan is rational and sufficient but they might rule that 10 years is too long to wait and that what is supposed to happen by 2028 must happen immediately.